Roadmap to net zero emissions released by US administration

The Net-Zero Game Changers Initiative, led by a working group of 17 agencies and chaired by President Joe Biden’s climate advisers, has released a roadmap identifying five initial key areas for energy research and development to reach net zero by 2050: power grids, aviation, fusion energy, efficient buildings, and net-zero fuels and industrial products.

The White House stated that it has identified 37 “game-changing” technology categories across federal agencies. These include advanced forms of nuclear, solar and geothermal power generation, advanced batteries, electric aircraft and high-speed rail, low-carbon forms of aluminum, chemicals and concrete, emissions reductions from livestock and agriculture, and direct air capture as well as other methods of CO2 removal.

Potential sustainability impact

This initiative is in line with the Paris Agreement, under which a majority of countries have stated their commitment to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Achieving this is impossible without new or vastly improved forms of energy. In a finding cited by the White House working group, the International Energy Agency has concluded that nearly half of the emissions reductions necessary for net zero will have to come from technologies that are currently in their demonstration or prototype phase.

“Success will require [a near] complete transformation of today’s energy system,” something that would involve “unprecedented effort, scale and creativity,” wrote the working group in the roadmap. This diverse approach is aimed at creating as many options as possible to reach net zero emissions and curb climate change.